Fancy sharpening up your crime writing skills at The Watermill at Posara in Tuscany? And how does some expert help from bestselling crime author Meg Gardiner sound? What if you could get £100 off the price of the week-long course as well?

It all sounds pretty enticing, and this is exactly what’s on offer from The Watermill – just for Crime Fiction Lover readers. The venue is organising its second Meg Gardiner Crime Writing course which will run from 4-11 October 2014 at the secluded mill in Lunigiana, Tuscany. Gardiner is the author of the Evan Delaney novels which are set in Santa Barbara, California. Her book China Lake won the 2009 Edgar Award for Best Paperback Original, so you know you’ll be working with one of the best.

The course features modules on plot, characters, generating suspense, writing dialogue, and tips on getting published in the 21st century. There’s also a day-long excursion to Lucca or Cinque Terre on the Wednesday. For a full synopsis, look here. If you’ve got a 10-page synopsis of a story you’re working on, bring it with you and Gardiner will analyse it and discuss it with you, providing tips on progressing it or getting it published.

“I’ll show you how to create compelling heroes and charismatic villains, putting them in tense conflict and hook readers with suspenseful plots,” says Meg Gardiner (pictured).

Get £100 off!
Prices start at £1,310 per person per week (based on two people sharing), with a £200 discount if you take a non-writing partner. Single rooms are £1,399, or £1,499 with en suite bathroom. However, if you quote the code ‘Crime Fiction Lover offer 001’ in the Message field when competing the enquiry form here, you’ll get £100 off your booking.

You’ll have to get to Pisa airport on 4 October, but other than that everything is included in the price: tuition, accommodation, all meals (including lunches and dinner at nearby restaurants, with local specialties and wine), pick-up and drop-off at Pisa airport and transport to all locations, including the excursion.

For more information visit The Watermill’s website.